§ Dr. Edmund Marshall (Goole)I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,
the Government's decision to discontinue the use of official envelopes, franked 'On Her Majesty's Service', for the purposes of electoral registration and absent voting applications, with effect from 15 February 1982.That specific decision came to my notice only recently in correspondence, although I now understand that it was taken some months ago. As far as I have been able to discover, there has been no parliamentary statement or other public announcement about this specific matter, as distinct from more general policy on official paid items of postage. The absence of any public announcement about electoral registration communications is surprising, in view of the implications for the democratic rights of many of our constituents.All hon. Members are aware of the importance of the process of electoral registration and of electors' applications to become absent voters. The political sensitivity over who pays for the postage on comrnunications to electoral registration officers requires that all hon. Members should have an opportunity to hear what a Minister has to say about the proposed changes. As the decision involves discontinuing the use of official paid envelopes marked "On Her Majesty's Service", it must involve Her Majesty's Ministers in some administrative responsibility, if only in terms of finance.
It is not sufficient for the Government to say that, in future, electoral registration officers will be able to provide their own reply-paid envelopes. I understand that there is to be no obligation on the officers to do so and, in the present financial climate of local government, the money may not be available for that purpose. Therefore, those wishing to send official communications to electoral registration officers may have to pay their own postage.
The House needs to know what the Government intend to do about this matter. What I have said demonstrates how urgent and important is the subject. The new arrangements are planned to come into effect on 15 February, 12 days from now. The next opportunity for oral questions to the Home Secretary does not arise until 18 February. Nor would it be satisfactory for this important matter to be considered in a late-night Adjournment debate.
For all those reasons I respectfully ask that you, Mr. Speaker, agree to a debate on this subject being given precedence over the other Orders of the Day.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member for Goole (Dr. Marshall) gave me notice before 12 noon today that he would seek leave to move the Adjournment of the House to discuss an important and specific matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely,
the Government's decision to discontinue the use of official envelopes, franked 'On Her Majesty's Service', for the purposes of electoral registration and absent voting applications, with effect from 15 February 1982.I listened carefully to the important statement made by the hon. Gentleman. The House has always shown deep concern about matters affecting the election of people, 313 either to local government or to this House. The House has instructed me to take account of the several factors but to give no reason for my decision. I listened with great care to what the hon. Gentleman said but I must rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.